5 keys for the Kansas City Royals this postseason
5. Hitting for power
The Kansas City Royals have no issue hitting for contact. Their .269 team batting average is the second best in all of baseball, led by five everyday players who are hitting above .280.
They do not struggle on the base paths either, as their 105 stolen bases is the most in the American League.
The one area that is holding the Royals’ offensive production back is a lack of power hitting.
Heading into the final days of the regular season, Kansas City ranks last among American League playoff teams in both home runs and extra-base hits. And while this lack of power hitting has not significantly hurt their run production yet, it is alarming, especially considering that the Royals are just 10-16 against the American League teams slated to make the postseason.
Kansas City does have players that can provide some pop at the plate. Six players on the roster have produced double-digit home run numbers, with three having hit at least 20 bombs.
If the Royals are going to succeed in the postseason, though, they will need to find a way to utilize this power at a much more frequent rate. Kansas City steamrolled through the American League during the 2014 playoffs, and while a large part of that was due to pitching, success on the base paths and an ability to hit for contact, timely power hitting played just as important of a role.